Baysox Beat Erie 4/15

The Baysox offense pounded out 14 hits in a 5-4 win over the Erie SeaWolves Monday evening for their third consecutive win on Jackie Robinson Day.

The Baysox paid tribute to Jackie Robinson Monday night as outfielder Xavier Avery wore a special #42 jersey to honor the player who broke the color barrier in baseball.

“It kind of spooked me a little bit,” Avery said of being given the jersey to wear. “After seeing the movie last night and with the celebration going on, stepping on the field I got a little bit nervous. I felt like he was looking down on me from heaven and I didn’t want to let him down.”

Bowie’s top five hitters were particularly dangerous Monday, combining for 10 hits and all five Baysox RBIs. Batting fourth and fifth, designated hitter Caleb Joseph and third baseman Buck Britton have paced the Baysox with a combined 27 RBIs over the first 10 games.

“Offensively we are just clicking right now,” said Manager Gary Kendall. “Even the innings we come up dry we are putting pressure on their pitcher. A lot of stressful innings with the bases loaded or first and second wears on a pitcher. We force him to make good pitches to get guys out.”

The game ended with some excitement as a 9-3-2 putout of Marcus Lemon at home plate was required to preserve the win and end the game after a two-out double by James McCann brought Lemon inches from tying the game.

“It’s a play we worked in Spring Training,” Kendall said. “The designed play is to hit the lead infielder [Ty] Kelly, but [Aaron] Baker is there as a trailer and I’m just glad he was in a really good position to make a throw because Lemon had his wheels going from first to home and if there is any delay there or we don’t play that clean it’s a tie game. It was a nice play. The best thing about it was [Brian] Ward having the concentration on a tough hop with the guy barreling in on you to catch the ball and make the tag.”

The Baysox used a two out rally to get on the board first in the bottom of the first inning against Erie starter Kyle Lobstein. Second baseman Ty Kelly hit a two out single to shortstop and moved to second base when Joseph singled to right field. Britton plated Kelly when he singled to right field to give the Baysox a 1-0 lead.

Erie tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning against Baysox starter Jake Pettit when Wade Gaynor hit a solo home run into left field.

Bowie retook the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Kelly hit a lead off single to center field and scored when Joseph doubled to left field to make the score 2-1.

The SeaWolves again came back to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the third inning. Gaynor hit a lead off double to left field and James Robbins was then hit by a pitch. With one out, Brandon Douglas drew a walk to load the bases before Jamie Johnson singled to left field to bring home one run.

The top of the Baysox lineup continued to dominate with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hudson reached on a lead off bunt single and stole second base before scoring when Joseph doubled to center field. Britton singled to left field to bring Joseph home and give the Baysox a 4-2 lead.

For a third time, the SeaWolves came back to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Douglas reached on a throwing error by shortstop Cale Iorg and moved to second base on a pickoff error by Pettit. Johnson then drew a walk before left-handed reliever Chris Petrini replaced Pettit on the mound. Luis Castillo immediately singled to plate Douglas and move Johnson to second base before Daniel Fields singled to right field to load the bases. Hernan Perez recorded the third consecutive single to plate Johnson and tie the game 4-4.

Bowie took the lead right back in the bottom half of the inning. Catcher Brian Ward hit a lead off single to left field and moved to second base when right fielder John Ruettiger hit a one out single to left field. With two outs, Hudson drew a wlak to load the bases before Robbie Weinhardt replaced Lobstein on the mound. Weinhardt issued a walk to Kelly to plate Ward and give the Baysox a 5-4 lead.

Pettit pitched five and one-third innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out two and walking three in the no decision. Petrini pitched one and two-thirds innings scoreless innings, allowing three hits, striking out one and walking one in the win. Chris Jones pitched the final two innings for the Baysox, picking up his first save of the season.

Lobstein took the loss for Erie , pitching five and two-thirds innings and allowing five runs on 11 hits while striking out six and walking one.